From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
5000-mile engine inspection detailing collapsed piston skirts, including copies of telegrams.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 82\1\ scan0257 | |
| Date | 12th October 1933 | |
| Seen E EBy x.133a. Seen By To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} From G.W.H. Hotel de France. Chateauroux. Indre. 12.10.33. I.B.IV. We sent you the following telegram this morning in answer to yours received late last night: WE HAVE A BAD PISTON KNOCK STOP DISMANTLING TODAY 5000 MILES We have received your telegram: WE FIND ON TEST THAT PISTONS WHICH HAVE RECEIVED SPECIAL HEAT TREATEMENT TAKE A SET AND KNOCK ANXIOUS TO KNOW WHAT YOU FIND We have after completing the 5000 miles this morning dismantled the engine and examined the pistons. There are no signs of cracks anywhere. The split skirt show by the bedding that they are hard on the top. The bedding does not show up so clear by the slot. In measuring the pistons up with caliphers we found that the skirts of N°4, 5 & 6 had collapsed sideways approx one millimetre on the dia., that is taking the measurement at right angles to the slot. We cannot find any other faults. None of the lands show any bodding. The bearings of the connecting rods are in a good condition. [Signature] G H Hancock. G.W.H. [Stamp] 16 OCT 1933 RECEIVED | ||